Quebec's provincial election is three days away, ethnic media have this to say:

CAQ and QLP neck and neck

A column in Montreal's Italian source Corierre Italiano reports: On Monday October 1, just over 6 million voters will be called to renew Quebec’s 125-seat National Assembly. This will be the 42nd provincial general election in the history of the province, the first to be held, following the amendment of the 2013 law, on a fixed date, i.e. the first Monday in October, every four years under the First-Past-the-Post system. When Premier Philippe Couillard dissolved the chamber, his party, the Quebec Liberal Party (QLP) held 68 seats; the Parti Québécois (PQ), 28; the Coalition avenir Québec (CAQ), 21; Québec solidaire (QS), 3; plus 5 independents. Out of 125 MNAs, 87 were men and 38, women. The threshold to form a majority government is 63 members. The latest polls suggest a statistical tie between the incumbent Liberals and the CAQ (28.6% against 29.1%). The other two major parties, PQ and QS follow with 21.5% and 17.1% respectively. A minority government seems a strong possibility. The most distinguishing feature of this election is the fact that the PQ (unlike the QS) decided not to include a referendum on independence in its platform. Thus, this will be the first election in a long time not centred on the national question. The pledges the various parties have made revolve around the same issues: healthcare, education, jobs, immigration, transportation, environment, the family: each party with its own recipe. Whoever wins though, some promises will be kept; others won’t. (27/09/2018).

Quebec Election 2018: Survey by “Sada Al Mashrek” newspaper on the participation of the Arab Community

An editorial in the twice-monthly Sada Al Mashrek comments on their election survey.

Increased political awareness and the willingness to participate in the democratic process. 346 people participated in the survey, which was conducted by Sada Al Mashrek Newspaper. Participants were randomly selected by phone in different parts of Montréal, and results showed the percentage of Arabic speaking voters in the general elections in the province Quebec is remarkably increasing compared to previous years. The survey was conducted between September 12 and 22, 2018 with 192 men and 154 women participants. The results indicating which parties were supported are as follows: 53.22% will vote PLQ, 0.322% will vote PQ, 0.65% will vote CAQ, 5.8% will vote QS, 40% refused to answer. On what basis they will vote, the results are as follows: the party’s agenda: 61.85%, the party itself regardless of their agenda: 24%, the candidate, regardless of his party: 0%, others: 0%, upon community leaders' recommendations: 2.9%, no answers: 10.6%. These figures, which Sada Al Mashrek has consistently surveyed occasionally, may not influence in the decision making nor give the opinion of the Arab communities, but it is a serious practice, since the election is a legitimate exercise, and it gives the voters the opportunity to express their views without any fear or hesitation. We at the newspaper kindly request all Arab community members go to the ballot boxes if you have not yet done or go and vote for whichever party you feel is good for you and your community and country, or whose ideas correspond to your principles and aspirations, regardless of any external influence whatsoever. (25/09/2018)